Automatic collator



July 25, 1939. L. 1.. WEST AUTOMATIC COLLATOR 12 Sheets-She'et 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1937 0m. no.

. INVENTOR.

LLOYD L WEST ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1939. L. WEST AUTOMATIC COLLATOR Filed Dec. '4, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LLOYD L. wm

ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1939. 1.. WEST AUTOMATIC COLLATOR Filed Dec. 4, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 O a T m s 8 2 t V H N E W ow QT L G D w 9w .8 9N n w u Q a a G 6N mww m @NN 1 l n mm nNN Rm 9M 5 @ZN I] n n I u Y n.. B 6N I mom 80 02 ER F M SN N3 2a 2a 2N m m o H m m3 .6 hm h 2 SN +3 3. N5

ATTORNEY.

y 25, 939- L. L WEST v 2,167,470

AUTOMATIC COLLATOR' Filed Dec. 4,.19'57 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 n was :1 2;

S h a as INVENTOR. LLOYD L. WEST ATTORNEY.

"' July 25, 1939. WEST AUTOMATIC COLLATOR 12 Sheets-Sheet s Filed Dec. 4, 1957 INVENTQR. LLOYD L. Was'r ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1939. L. L. WEST 2,167,470

AUTOMATIC COLLATOR Filed Dec. 4, 1957 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 Iii 'II IIII m \55 we m 155 E II E 2] INVENTOR.

LLOYD L. WEST ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1939- L. L. WEST AUTOMATIC COLLATOR Filed Dec. 4, 1957 -12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Mill l l L INVENTOR. LLOYD L. was-r ATTORNEY.

July ,25, 1939.

L. L. WEST AUTOMATIC COLLATOR Filed Dec. 4, 1957 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR.

LLOYD L. Wzsr ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1939. 1.. WEST AUTOMATIC common Filed Dec. 4, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 1O \&4 ms 2 04 I56 207 I57 INVENT OR.

LLdVD L. We

ATTORNEY.

July 25, 1939. L, L, WEST AUTOMATIC COLLATOR l2 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Dec. 4, 1937 4 m. m lllm z 5 w m z 2 E w m 5 .L m.

, INVENTOR.

LLOYD L. WEST ATTORNEY.

AUTQMATIC COLLATOR Filed Dec. 4, 1957 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 F 5Z4 fl 529 i E 45 INVENTOR.

- LLOID L. W551 BY W ATTORNEY.

Patented July 25, 1939 AUTOMATIC COLLATOR Kans.

Lloyd L. West, Wichita, Kans., assignor of fortynine per cent to John B. McKay, Wichita,

Application December 4, 1937, serial No. 178,078

30 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to gathering or assembling machines, known as collators, and particularly to an "automatic collator for use in assembling various sheets of paper or the like in a. predetermined order.

There is in use today, in business and in other fields, many difierent paper forms in which a plurality of sheets are used in consecutive order, that is, an original, duplicate, triplicate, quadruplicate, etc. Pages of pamphlets, magazines, books, catalogs and other printed matter, as well as colored papers for various purposes are just a few of the articles which must be bound, secured or assembled together in proper order. As far as I am aware, this procedure of assembling various sheets or pages in consecutive order has been until my invention a, manual processflrequiring much time and dependent on the human element for accuracy.

The objects of my invention are, first: to pro- Vide an automatic collator of the class described wherein single sheets from each of a plurality "0t feeder piles are simultaneously transferred to adelivery belt and ejected therefrom in consecutive order preparatory to binding, securing or assembling together.

Second: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, a transfer table or intermediate step, between the feeder piles and the delivery belt, the single sheets being deposited on the transfer table and held thereon by suction means, the sheets then being carried to the delivery belt; whereby', it the'device fails to carry a sheet to the transfer table, it will be noted by the operator and the deficiency corrected.

Third: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, an automatic feeder mechanism which may be supplied with a plurality of sheets and periodically raised 'to maintain the top sheet at pickup position and provided with blast means to agitatethe top sheet to facilitate pick up thereof.

Fourth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, employing feeder mechanism, manually operated adjustable paper stops for properly positioning the paper in the feeders.

Fifth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, pickup mechanism adapted to pick up a single sheet of paper .and carry it to the next stage, release it and return for another sheet.

Sixth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, pickup mechanism adjustable to the size of sheet with which used.

Seventh: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, pickup mechanism having suction and'blast means whereby the suction will be. used in picking up and holding a sheet of paper during transfer to the next stage and the. blast means will operate to release the paper from the pickup member.

Eighth: to provide in an automatic collator of -the class described, a suction means adapted to prevent the moving sheet from dragging on the delivery belt until final deposit thereon and means for shutting 011 the suction openings which are not in use.

Ninth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, hold down mechanism cooperable with the delivery belt for retaining the sheets on said delivery belt, said hold down mechanism being movable oil? the delivery belt and out of the way of the pickup members during their deposit of sheets on the delivery belt, the hold down members being adapted to automatically return to paper hold down position.

Tenth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, auxiliary hold down shoes in constant engagement with the delivery belt for securely holding the sheets in close relation to said belt, said shoes being adjustable for different size sheets.

Eleventh: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, means for removing the sheets from the delivery belt and depositing said sheets on a. delivery or receiving table,

Twelfth: to provide inan automatic collator of the class described, means at the delivery station for jogging or agitating the delivered sheets to facilitate and assure even piling thereof.

Thirteenth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, automatic delivery table dropping means for lowering the table as sheets are de ivered thereon, including means for adjusting the rate of downward movement of the table according to the thickness and number of sheets being collated.

' Fourteenth: ./to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, an air system including a. pump, a valve chamber, a plurality of blast and suction lines, valves in the chamber valving the lines, and cams for actuating the valves, the lines being carried to various parts of the machine for air operation thereat, the

' cams actuating the valves properly timing the suction and blast at the-desired points.

Fifteenth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, driving means for the pump, delivery belt and the Joggers, said driving -means also actuating the pickup mechanism. the feeder lifts, delivery drop and the valve camshaft,

a clutch being provided to isolate and stop the second group of mechanisms while allowing the first group to continue operation, and a manually operated lever for disengaging the clutch.

Sixteenth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, a clutch in the driving means and an automatic means for disengaging the clutch operable only when any of the pick up members fail to carry a sheet of paper across the suction means provided to prevent the moving sheet from dragging on the delivery belt.

Seventeenth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described, release means in the feeder mechanism and in the delivery mechanism whereby the feeder tables and the delivery table may be released from the automatic lift or drop so that they may be raised or lowered manually to any desired position.

Eighteenth: to provide in an automatic collator of the class described having a pickup member carriage, a carriage actuator adapted to reciprocate the carriage, said actuator being adapted to move the carriage more rapidly from the delivery belt position than from the feeder position, whereby the hold down members may drop instantaneously onto the sheet on the moving belt to hold said sheet in place.

In carrying out the preferred form of my invention I employ a plurality of feeder'stations in which are positioned the piles of sheets which are to be assembled, a plurality of like sheets in each of the respective feeders, Adjacent the feeder stations is the transfer table and running parallel with the transfer table is the delivery belt. A pickup carriage is adapted to move transversely of the machine and has two aligning sets of pickup members, one set being adapted to pickup sheets from the feeder piles and deposit them on the transfer table and the other set being adapted to pick up the sheets deposited on the transfer table and deposit them on the moving delivery belt, said belt moving at a rate sufficient to deposit all the sheets thereon at the delivery station positioned at the end of the belt, before another supply of sheets is deposited on the belt.

An air system is provided, employing suction and blast lines which are controlled by timedvalves and connected at various points on the machine to facilitate the proper movement of the sheets therein. Blast is provided on the feeder stations to agitate the top sheets therein to assure'proper pick up of same by the pick up shoes to which a suction line and a blast'line are connected, the suction holding the sheets to the shoe and the blast removingithe sheet when depositing on the transfer table or the delivery belt. Suction is provided on the transfer table to hold the sheets thereto after deposit from the feeder and until the pickup members drop thereon to remove them to the delivery belt. Suction is also provided on a longitudinal tube between the transfer table and the delivery belt, this tube and the suction therein providing means for holding the sheet taut and free from the delivery belt during transit from the transfer table to the delivery belt for deposit thereon.

A hold down tape is provided running parallel with the delivery belt and at one edge thereof, this tape being adapted to retain the sheets against the delivery belt during their movement thereon. The hold down tape is 50 mounted that at the last part of the stroke of the pickup members carrying the sheets to the delivery belt, the hold down tape will be raised from the delivery belt and forced away therefrom so that the pick up members may deposit the sheets on the belt at the far edge thereof. Immediately on return movement of the pickup members the hold down tape will return to sheet retaining position. Adjustable hold down shoes are also provided, resting on the delivery belt, between which shoes and the belt, the sheets may pass.

A clutch and both a manual and an automatic throwoff therefor are provided in the driving mechanism. The automatic throwoff is actuated only when a sheet fails to be removed from the transfer station or table to the delivery belt. The manual throwofli is easily accessible to the operator and may be operated at will.

In the feeder stations means are provided for automatically raising the feeder tables as the supply of sheets thereon diminishes and in the delivery stations means are provided for automatically lowering the delivery table as the sheets accumulate thereon.

The objects, advantages, construction and operation of my invention will be better understood by reference to the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, elevational, assembly view of the automatic collator comprising my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan assembly view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational assembly view from the drive end.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational assembly view from the delivery end.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view taken below the working top of the device showing the driving mechanism assembly.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of the valve cam shaft drive and the feeder table lift cam drive.

7 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the feeder lift screw release mechanism, the delivery drop screw release mechanism being similar in construction.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal, sectional view through the feeder table lift mechanism, the same construction being used in the delivery table drop mechanism except that reverse action is used.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the adjustment, cam, and pawl and ratchet membersused in the feeder table lift and the delivery table drop mechanisms.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the drive cam and rocker arm, shaft and worm and gear on the delivery table drop mechanism.

, Fig. 11 is an end view of the drive cam and rocker arm for the feeder table lift mechanism, with a fragment of the rocker arm connecting member.

Fig. 12 is an end view of the drive cam and rocker arm for the delivery table drop mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a vertical elevation of the feeder back stops, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view through one of the feeder back stops, part of the adjustment therefor being shown.

Fig. 16 is a detail view of the front sheet retainer and bar, associated parts being shown in section.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view through the bar and retainer, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary top plan view of the retainer, the retainer bar end and rollers, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 19 is a vertical side elevational view of the pickup member assembly.

Fig. 20 is a vertical front elevational view of the same, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 21 is a detail view of the suction and blast outlets on the pickup carriage.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary, sectional view through the transfer table, delivery belt and suction line for holding the sheets in spaced relation to the delivery table, a portion of the pickup member being shown in elevation.

Fig. 23 is a longitudinal, sectional view, partly in elevation, through the sheet elevating suction line and the shutoff sleeve therefor.

Fig. 24 is a side elevational view of the hold down tape supporting mechanism.

Fig. 25 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary, elevational and partly sectional view of the auxiliary hold down shoe'; the transfer table, and delivery belt and table being shown in section.

Fig. 27 is a side elevational view of the same, the hold down shoe supporting rod being shown in section.

Fig. 28 is a top plan view of the same.

1 Fig. 29 is a cross sectional view and elevation of the auxiliary hold down shoe as used at the delivery end of the delivery belt.

Fig. 30 is a reduced side elevational view and section showing the auxiliary hold down shoe, the delivery belt, the strippers and the joggers and guides at the delivery station.

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary top plan view of the jogger actuating cam and associated rods, parts being broken away to better illustrate certain other parts.

Fig. 32 is an end view of the jogger cam from the cam groove side thereof.

Fig. 33 is a side elevational view of the jogger cam and associated parts, certain parts being shown in section.

Fig. 34 is a perspective, semi-diagrammatic view showing the air system.

Fig. 35 is a vertical sectional view showing the valve chamber assembly and cam actuator for the valves.

Fig. 36 is a reduced sectional view on the line 3B-36 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 37 is an enlarged detail elevational view and section of the pickup carriage drive.

Fig. 38 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same.

Fig. 39 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the clutch mechanism.

Fig. 40 is a sectional view on the line Ill-40 of Fig. 39.

Fig. 41 is a sectional view on the line ll-4| of Fig. 39.

Fig. 42 is a disassociated perspective view of the clutch arm, shoe and arm support segment.

Fig. 43 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the clutch release shaft assembly.

Fig. 44 is a sectional view on the line 4444 of Fig. 43.

Fig. 45 is a top plan and sectional View through the clutch release shaft assembly.

Fig. 46 isa front elevational view and sectional view of the clutch release shaft lever, the automatic suction valve and. trip therefOr and the manual clutch release finger.

Fig. 47 is a fragmentary top plan view of the same.

Fig. 48 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the clutch release shaft lever and trip mechanism therefor, and the manual clutch release finger.

Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference I designates the feeder station in which a quantity of sheets 2 may be placed. The top sheets are on a level with the transfer table 3 to which they are carried individually by the pickup members 4, carried by pickup carriage 5, movably positioned on frame5'. A delivery belt 6 runs parallel with the transfer table 3 and terminates at a delivery station I in which the sheets are piled as shown at 8. Suitable driving mechanism is provided for actuating the various moving parts. An air system is also provided whereby suction and blast may be had at desired points and intervals in the operation of the device.

The feeder stations I comprise standards or uprights 3 carrying in fixed relation a lower frame l0 and in sleeved relation a movable table II having collars l2 with segment |3 in threaded engagement with screw shaft l4, whereby rotation of said shaft M in a predetermined direction will cause the table II to move upwardly to maintain the top sheets at pick up level. The table II may be disassociated from the shaft l4 and manually raised or lowered to any desired level by withdrawing the segment I3 working in the slotted opening |5 of the collar l2. (See Fig. '7.) A rod I6 is secured to the segment l3 and supported in bearings l1 and I8. The end of the rod "5 terminates in a pivoted lever l9, upward movement of which will cause endwise movement ofthe rod IE to withdraw the segment |3 from engagement with the screw shaft H. A spring 20 will return the segment to operating position when the lever I9 is lowered.

The automatic paper feeding mechanism of which the screw shafts H! are a part, comprises gears 2| on the lower end of said screw shafts, said gears 2| engaging gears 22 on a cross shaft 23 suitably carried by the lower frame H), the screw shafts being right and left hand since they must rotate in opposite directions. Centrally located on the cross shaft 23 is another gear 24 meshing with worm 25 carried by sleeve shaft 26 suitably carried by frame I0. (See Figs. 8 to 12.) The sleeve shaft 26 carries at the end thereof a ratchet wheel 2! actuated by movement of pawl 28 pivoted on lever arm 29 carried by shaft 30 passing through the interior of sleeved shaft 26 and terminating with a depending lever 3| in the case of the feeder lift and an upstanding lever 3| in the delivery drop mechanism, the dotted lines in Fig. 10 indicating the lever 3|. The levers 3| on each of the feeders are interconnected by connecting rod 32 which carries a roller 32" adapted to be contacted by cam 33, actuation of which will be taken up hereinafter. The lever 3| carries a roller 32' adapted to contact cam 33, the actuation of which will also be hereinafter described.

Loosely carried by the sleeve shaft 26 is the camand adjustment member 34, having cam surface 35 and toothed portion 36. A pin 31 on pawl 28 is adapted to ride the cam surface 35 and the relation between the pawl and the cam surface.

lift may thus be adjusted for different thicknesses of sheets.

At the back end of the feeder stations, that is, adjacent the transfer table (see Figs. 13, 14 and 15), are located the feeder back stops comprising upright angular members 40 having a base portion 4| with threaded extension 42 in threaded engagement with screw 43. Suitable supports 43 are provided for said screw which carries at one end thereof a gear 44 engaged by a worm 45 on shaft 46 suitably supported on lower table I0 and carrying a crank 41 at the front end of the feeder table, a lock nut 48 being provided to lock the shaft 46 in fixed position. Right and left hand threads may be provided on the screw 43 so that rotation of said screw will cause the back stops 40 to move toward or away from each other for adjustment to fit the size sheet used. A projection or tongue 49 depends from the base portions M and is positioned in groove 50 in lower table frame I0 to keep the angular back stops 40 in horizontal alignment during adjustment. The movable feeder table I I is grooved at 5I to carry dovetail 52 of table segment 53 whereby said segment may maintain its vertical relation to table II while being adjusted horizontally therewith. The projection 54 on extension 55 of segment 53 works in vertical groove 56 of back stop angle 40 so as to retain said segment in horizontal relation therewith while being adjusted vertically. It is on these segments 53 that the corners of the sheets lie.

In the back stop members 40 at the top of the pile of sheets in the feeder station are openings 51 through which a blast of air may be directed to loosen up the few top sheets in order to facilitate removal of same and to assure the transfer of only one sheet at a time. A small corner paper stop 58'may be provided to prevent the sheets from being raised too high by the air blast. The air system will be explained more in detail later in this specification.

Front sheet stops or aligners (see Figs. 16, 1'7 and 18), are provided in the feeder stations and comprise resilient fingers 59 which may rest against the top sheet and are carried by vertically slidable supports 60 received in slotted opening 6| of head 62, said head being adjustably carried on transverse bar 63 which may be rollingly mounted on feeder top frame 84, a resilient member 65 providing pressure against the frame 64, the rollers 86 being carried on T-head 61 of transverse bar 63. By this means the transverse bar 63 and the associated stops thereon may be adjusted on the top frame 64 to proper position in relation to the sheets being collated. The head 82 is maintained in adjusted position with relation to the transverse bar 63 by means of lock member 68 urged into contact with groove 69 in transverse bar 63 by spring 10. Latch or lever H pivoted to shaft 12 will raise member 68 when moved to a vertical position as will be obvious from the drawings. The slidable supports 60 may be maintained in fixed relation to the head 62 by lock members I3 on shaft 14 to which is pivoted lever I5, spring I6 normally urging the lock member 13 into locking position. When it is desired to have the slidable support move freely in slotted opening 6|, the lock member is held in disengaging position as shown, allowing the support 60 to rise vertically when the bottom thereof contacts the feeder table I I. A weight Il may be employed to assure gravitating of the sliding support 60.

The transfer table 3 to which the sheets 2 from the feeder stations are transferred prior to removal to the delivery belt, is supported on frame "I8 and standards 19 with intermediate rails or brace members 80. (See Figs. 1 to 5.) Air suction openings BI are provided in the face of the transfer table. (See Figs. 2 and 34.)

The pickup carriage 5, which is movable transversely across the transfer table to carry sheets from the feeder piles to the transfer table and from the transfer table to the delivery belt, comprises end frames 82 and 83 having V-rollers 84 riding on tracks 85 which form a part of the frame I8 at the ends thereof. Arms 06 and 81 depend from the end frames 82 and 83 and carry auxiliary V-rollers 88 riding track 89 of intermediate rails 80 assisting in stabilizing the pick up carriage in its back and forth movement.

The end frames 82 and 83 are interconnected by pickup head supports 90 and pickup head rocker arm supports 9i above the table and by connecting drive bar 92 below the table. pick up carriage end frames 02 and 08 are provided with sleeve bearings 93 in which.are movably positioned uprights or push rods 94 interconnected by rocker arm actuator bar 95 on which rocker arm pivot heads 96 are adjustably supported. Projections 91 on the rocker arm pivot heads slide in grove 98 in the rocker arm actuator bar 95, a suitable thumb screw 99 being provided to lock the head 96 in adjusted position. Slidably pivoted to the head 96 are pickup rocker arms I00 which are sleeved for pivotal movement on pick-up head rocker arm supports 9|, the other end of the rocker arms being slidably pivoted to pickup cross head I M (see Figs. 19 and 20), having rigid depending conduits or hollow rods I02 and I03 which are sleeved for vertical movement in tube carrier I04, a clamp I05 and set screw I06 being provided for securely holding the carrier I04 in any desired position on the pick up head support 90. One tube I02 terminates in a suction cup I01 the other tube or hollow rod I03 being diverted at an angle and connecting with the first tube I02 above the suction cup I01. Springs I08 surround the hollow rods I02 and I03 between the cross head IOI and the tube or rod carrier I04 and normally urge the cross heads upward. Outlets I09 and I00 are provided on the cross heads I UI for connection to suction and blast lines. A valve IIO may be provided in the cross head IOI or in any other suitable position for adjustment of the suction in the rod I02. Longitudinal air suction and blast conduits III and H2 extend between the end frames 82 and 83 and are provided along the length thereof with spaced outlets as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and 21. Each conduit III and 2 has a short upper outlet H3 and H3 extending outwardly, and a longer, lower outlet H4 and 4' extending. inwardly crossing each other, clamps II5 being provided to tie the lower outlets to the upper outlets as shown. Screw caps and sleeve caps, H6 and H6 are provided on the blast and suction outlets which are not in use. Flexible conductors II! and H0 extend from the outlets H3, H4, H3 and M4 to the outlets I09 and I09 on the cross heads MI.

The lower end of the push rods 94 carry rollers II9 (see Figs. 1 and 4), which are adapted to contact cams I26 secured to the sides of tracks 85, upward movement of the rods 94 by contact with the cams, raising the rocker arm actuator bar 95 to actuate the rocker arms I00 causing downward movement of the pick up suction cups I01 to pick up or deposit a sheet at the feeder The - sion to belt 6.

station, transfer table, or delivery belt, as the case may be. When the rollers II9 are, free of the cams I26, the springs I08 on the pick up heads will assist in urging the push rods downwardly, the extent of downward movement being limited by adjustable collars I21 on the push rods.

Running parallel to and adjacent the transfer table 3 is the delivery belt 6 carried by pulleys or rollers I28 suitably journaled in bearings I29. Idler roller I30 adjustably carried by supports I3I provides means for applying the proper ten- (See Fig. 1.) positioned below the upper portion of belt 6 providing a solid base therefor. The'upper portion of the belt passes through opening 18 inend frame 18. (See Fig. 4.)

On the transfer table 1, adjacent the delivery belt is a longitudinal suction conduit I33 (see Figs. 22 and 23), supported above the top of" the transfer table and the delivery belt by suitable clamps I34, openings I35 being provided in the conduit at the top thereof, a sleeve valve I36 having corresponding openings I31, being adapted to close off said openings I35 when they are not in use. A pin I38 working in slot I39 is adapted to retain the sleeve I36 in open or closed position. As shown in Fig. 22 the sheet being carried by the pickup head from the transfer'table to the delivery belt will be kept from dragging on'the delivery belt, the-suction in the conduit I33 assisting in keeping the sheet taut. The function of this conduit in connection withthe automatic control means for stopping the machine, should a sheet fail to be carried from the transfer table to the delivery belt, will he hereinafter explained.

The sheets which are deposited on the moving delivery belt are held in place by the hold down 40 tape I40 (see Figs. 24 and 25), carried on pulleys I 4|, rotatably secured to rocker arm I42 which in turn is pivotally mounted to sliding head I43, slidably mounted on rods I44,carried by brackets I45 which may be suitably fastened to the track 85. Springs I46 normally urge sliding head I43 and its associated rocker arm I42 and pulley and hold down tape into position above the delivery belt;- The end of the rocker arm I42 opposite the pulley I4I has an inclined face or shoulder I41, the upper end of which has a hook or stop I48, a roller I 49 being adapted to move in a horizontal line to contact the inclined surface to rock the rocker arm I42 raising the hold down tape from the delivery belt, further horizontal movement of the roller I 49 causing it to engage the stop or hook I48 and therebyterminating the 90 (see Figs. 2 and 4), but may be in any desirable position so as to actuate the hold down tape at a predetermined moment and in proper relation with the action of the other mechanism. Since the hold down tape is held at each end by rollers or pulleys I'4I, hold down tape actuating mechanism is provided at both ends of the tape A belt table I32 is The roller I49 is shown carried by an arm I50 on the pick up head support and 34' to 36.)

and operated simultaneously upon movement of the pickup carriage 5. H

To assist the hold down tape in retaining the sheets on the delivery belt I have provided auxiliary hold downs I5I (see Figs. 26 to 29), having openings I52 in which are freely carried balls I53 resting against the delivery belt, the sheets pass-.

ing therebetween. The auxiliary hold downs I5I are adjustably carried. by supporting, rods I54 held by brackets I 55 suitably secured to the transfer table 3. Set screws I56 are provided for securely locking the hold downs in adjusted position. The auxiliaryhold downs are positioned on alignmentwith the strippers are side guides and joggers I59 and I60, guide I59 being securely fastened to rod or support I6 I, while guide I60 is adjustably secured to rod or support I62, said rods I6I and I62 being preferably square in cross section where they pass through openings I63 in delivery top frame I64, U-guides I 65. preventing the rods I6I and I62 from turning. A back guide and jogger I66 isadjustably carried on rod I61,

the ends of which are sleeved on side actuator rods I68, set screws I69 being provided to lock the rod I61 in adjusted position. Rods I68 are slidably carried by bearings I10 and terminate in angular projections I II working in cam groove I12 on jogger cams I13 (See Figs. 31, 32 and 33). carried on shafts I13 suitably journaled in bearings I14 and kept from endwise movement by collar I14". The ends of rods I6I, and I62 terminate in angular projections I14 working in cam track I15 on jogger cams I13, rotation of which will actuate rods I6I, I62 and. I68 to jog or agitate the guides and Joggers I 59, I60 and I66, maintaining the sheets 8 in an even pile.- -A top retainer I16 may be sleevedon rod I 62 and extend through a slotted I66 to prevent sh ts from floating out of the delivery station.

As the sheets reach the delivery station they are received on a delivery table I 11 which is automatically lowered at. a rate consistent with the .reception of sheets thereon, the apparatus for this In the handling of the sheets in my device the use of air suction and air blast is contemplated and toward this 'end I have provided a suitable pump I18 which is adapted to create air blast and air suction simultaneously. (SeeFigs. 1 to I Suction and blast lines I19 and I80 connect the pump with a valve housing I8I having two inlet chambers I82'and I83 and four outlet chambers I84, I85, I86 and I81. Valves I88 are adapted to valve openings I 89 between the inlet and outlet chambers, springs I90 normally urging the valves intoclosed position. Rocker arms I 9 I, pivoted at I92 to valve housing extension I93 bear at one end against the valve stem I94 of the valve and at the other end through roller I95 on the cam surface I96 of the cam wheel I91, the cam wheels being secured to cam shaft I98. The cam surfaces I96 on the various cam wheels are of predetermined length and so timed as to open or close the valves at precisely the desired moment. Suction outlet or conduit I99 and blast conduit I99 lead from the valve chambers I84 and I81 to approximately midpoint on the intermediate rails 80, flexible conduits 200 and 20I continuing the lines I99 and I99 to the conduits 202 and 203, secured to the arm 86 of end frame 82, said last named conduits continuing upwardly to connect to the ends of longitudinal conduits III and H2 on the pickup carriage. Through this system of conduits air suction and air blast is provided for the pick up heads, the flexible conduits 200 and 2M assuring continuity during movement of the pick up carriage.

Conduit 204 from suction chamber I leads to housings 205 below the air suction openings 8I in the transfer table 3, said housings being interconnected by conduit 206.

Conduit 201 from blast chamber I86 leads to a longitudinal conduit 208 adjacent the top frame rail 18; andat approximately central position with respect to each feeder station a blast outlet 209 is provided, side flexible conductors 2I0 extending from the outlets 209 to the blast chambers H I on the back stop members 40 in which the openings 51 are provided. The flexible conductors 2I0 allow free movement of the back stop members 40 during adjustment thereof. (See Fig. 34.) v

A separate conduit 2I2 leads directly from the pump I18 to the longitudinal conduit I33 on the delivery belt side of the transfer table. The suction in this line'is preferably less than that in the other conduits and is continuous. Aflexible line or conduit 2I3 leads from the end of conduit I 33 to a suction valve 2I4 mounted on the depending arm 81 of the end frame 83, the useand operation of said valve being hereinafter explained.

In the timing of the air suction and blast system, blast is provided through openings 209 and 51 at the feeder stations for a short interval to agitate the top few sheets during the pick up action by the suction cup I01. Suction is provided at the suction cups I01 when they drop onto the sheets on the feeder piles or on the transfer table preparatory to delivery to the transfer table or to the delivery belt, the suction continuing during the transfer of the sheet and until the moment of deposit at which time the suction ceases and a short blast of air is provided to positively release the sheet from the suction head. Suction is provided to the openings 8| in the transfer table as sheets are deposited thereon but suction is discontinued when the suction cups I01 drop to the transfer table to pick up the sheets.

Suction in the longitudinal conduit I33 is applied continuously and after the leading edge of the sheet 2 has passed over said conduit it seals the openings I31 in the sleeves I36. As aforesaid, the time and length of suction and blast is controlled by the cam wheels I91, however, since conduit I33 is connected directly to the pump through conduit 2I2 thesuction will be continuous as long as the pump is running.

Drive mechanism From the foregoing it will be seen that prop erly coordinated drive mechanism must be provided for conveying movement to the various parts. Toward this end Ihave provided a motor 2I5, driving shaft 2I6 through pulleys 2I1 and 2I8 and V-belt 2I9. The motor also drives the pump I18 through pulleys 220 and HI and V-belt 222. See Figs. 1 to 5.

The shaft 2 I6 is continuous, extending the full length of the machine, and is suitably journaled in bearings223 and carries a flywheel 223'. Adjacent the center of the shaft 2 I6 is a clutch comprising a driving section 224 rotatable with the shaft 2 I6 and a driven section 225 which may be engaged and disengaged from driving section 224. The clutch section 225 carries a V-pulley 226 in which belt 221 rides to actuate pulley 228 on shaft 229 carried by bearing 230, a worm 23I being carried by the shaft 229 and engaging gear 232 mounted on shaft 233 between bearings 234 and 235. The top of shaft233 (see Figs. 37 and 38), carries the sleeve 236 in which is slidably mountedthe carriage drive bar lever 231, one end of which carries atransverse extension 238 having roller 239 adapted to ride the cam surface 240 in irregularly shaped cam member 24I which is integral with bearing 235 and nonrotatable. Keys 242 on shaft or lever 231 work in keygrooves 243 of sleeve 236 to keep said lever from rotating. The other end of'lever 231 carries a headed roller 244 working in slot 245 of carriage connecting drive bar 92. The cam member MI is so shaped as to impart a rapid return of the pickup carriage from the delivery belt deposit position. The sharp angular surface 246 of cam member 24I allows this rapid movement of the roller 239 and lever 231.

At the lower end of shaft 233 are bevel gears 241 and 2,48, gear 241 meshing with bevel gear 249 on shaft 250 journaled in bearings 25I and 252 and carrying the cam 33 which contacts the roller 32" on connecting rod 32, movement of which will actuate the levers 3| to cause the feeder table lift mechanism to function.

The other bevel gear 248 meshes with bevel gear 253 on shaft 254 held in bearings 255 and 256, a. bevel gear 251 on the end of shaft 254 .meshing with bevel gear 258 on cam shaft I98 supported in bearings 259 and 260. The end of c-am shaft I98 carries the cam 33' which contacts roller 32 to actuate the lever 3I', causing the delivery table drop mechanism to function.

A pulley 26I is carried by drive shaft 2I6, a V-belt 262 and pulley 263 driving shaft 264 in bearing 265, bevel gears 266 and 261 driving shaft 26!! supported in bearings 269 and 210, a bevel gear 21I being secured to the top of shaft 268 and in mesh with bevel gear 212 on shaft 213 carrying delivery belt roller I 28 in bearings I29. Shaft 213 carries worms 214 at each end, each worm engaging a gear 215 on shaft 216 in bearing 211, said shaft 216 carrying bevel gear 218 in mesh with bevel gear portion I13" of jogger cam I13.

The clutch comprises the sliding driving section 224 sliding on segments 219 which are pinned .securely to the shaft H6 and spaced to provided slots or openings 260 in which the clutch arms 28I may operate, said arms being pivotally carried in openings 282 of the segments 219'by means of stub pins 283. Sliding member 224 has projections 284 therein which are adapted to contact the clutch arms 28I to move them into engaging position. The ends of the clutch arms carry rollers 285 adapted to contact inclined surface 286 of friction shoes 281 positioned in the driven clutch section 225, the roller 285 being positioned in the slot 288 of the shoes 281. A ring 289 bears against the shoes 281 and is normally urged toward the shoes by springs 290. A collar 291 on shaft 216 prevents endwise movement of the clutch section 225.

On the sliding driving clutch section 224, a circumferential groove 292 is provided with a split collar 292 working therein, a yoke 293 being pivotally secured to the collar 292 at 294, said yoke being adjustably carried by clutch rod 295.

The other end of the clutch rod 295 carries a sleeve 296 (see Figs. 43, 44 and 45), in whicha short rod 291 may work. A spring 298 in normally inert position is secured to sleeve 296 and collar 299 on short rod 291, providing a resilient connection between the rod 295 and rod 291. The short rod 291 is'slida-bly mounted in bracket 300 and bearing 301.

A clutch rod control lever 302 is adapted to impart endwise movement to the rod 291 by means of pm 303 on,said rod 291, the pin riding in slot 304 of forked end 305 of said control lever 302. A compression spring 306 surrounds the rod 291 between the bearing 301 and the washer 301 abutting forked end 305 of the control lever, normally urging the clutch rod into disengaging position.

The clutch control lever 302 extends upwardly and is pivoted at 308 to bracket 309. (See Figs. 46, 47 and 48.) The upper end of the control lever carries an angular offset portion 310 adapted to abut pin 31 I sliding in support 3 I 2 and secured to sliding head 313 which is slidably mounted on rods 314 secured to supports312 and 315, springs 316 normally urging the head 313 and pin 311 into lever extension retaining position. A dog 311, pivotally carried by the sliding head 313 at 318, has a'depending leg 319 adapted to contact stop 320. The face 321 of dog 311 may be contacted by plunger 322 on piston 323 positioned in suction valve 214, a spring 324 tending to urge the piston and plunger outwardly as shown. However, while there is suction in the valve chamber, this suction will be sufficient to overcome the compression of the spring 324 to keep the plunger withdrawn from dog engaging position. The valve chamber of the suction valve 214 is connected to the longitudinal suction conduit 133 on the transfer table 3 through flexible line"'213. The suction openings in the longitudinal conduit 133 are normally covered by the sheet ,2 which is passing thereover. Should a pick up member fail to pick up a sheet from the transfer table for delivery to the delivery belt the correspond ng suction openings over which the sheet would normally pass are left open, resulting in a loss of suction. In the suction valve this loss of suction will result in elongation of the spring 324 causing the plunger 322 to eject into the path of the dog 311 which it will strike moving the head 313 on the rods 314, withdrawing the pin 31 1 from engagement with the lever extension 310, permitting the control lever 302 to move the rods 291 and 295 toward the clutch, disengaging same, whereupon the pick up carriage will stop as w ll the drives to the feeder and delivery cams, and to the valve cams.

Normal action of the suction valve is as follows: When themachine starts the plunger 322 is in extended position but is withdrawn as soon as the sheets cover the suction openings in the longitudinal suction conduit 133. After the sheets pass over this suction line and the suction openings are uncovered, the plunger is released and as the machine moves back to Pick up position the pivot until the plunger passes over it, at which time the dog will fall back into place.

- The clutch may be engaged and the mechanism started by outward movement of the lever 325, pivoted at 326 and having angular portion 321 which carries a roller 328 adapted to engage incl'ned portion 329 of clutch rod control lever 302, forcing it back to clutchengaging position at which point the, plunger 322 will be forced out into extension engaging position. A spring 330 will return lever 325 to normal position. (See Figs. 1 and 4.)

To manually disengage the clutch I have provided a push lever 331, non-rotatably sleeved in a support in a suitable manner on one of the standards 19, the end of said lever 331 having an offset end 332 positioned in alignment with and adapted to contact the extension or pin 333 on the sliding head 313 to force same rearwardly, allowing the clutch control lever 302 to swing to clutch release position. When lever 302 is manually forced back to clutch engaging position, the head 313 will force end332 and lever-331 back to normal operating position.

Operation While the illustrations show three feeder piles it is obvious that the machine may be any length within reason and a greater number of feeder piles may be provided so that a greater number of different sheets can be collated.

The sheets 2 are stacked on the feeder tables 11 which are manually adjusted by releasing the segments 13, the proper heighth of the table 11 be'ng a point where the top sheet is adjacent the blast openings 51 in the back stop members 40. Prior to insertion of the sheets the back stop members are adjusted to accommodate the size sheets to be collated. This adjustment is accomplished by loosening lock nut 48 and turning crank 41 which will rotate the screw 43 on which the back stop members 40 are threaded. When proper adjustment is made the lock nut 48 is turned to secure the shaft 46. Front sheet stop fingers 59 are adjusted to sheet contactposition. The automat c lift-adjustment is'made by setting the detent 38 in the proper notch in the member 34 which will cause the cam surface 35 to act on ble dropping mechanism being so adjusted to .drop' the table at a rate equal to the sum of the rise of all the feeder tables being used, since the delivery table receives in consecutive order sheets from each of the feeder stations.

The strippers 151, side and rear guides and Joggers 159, 160 and 166 are adjusted to fit the size sheet being collated. The auxiliary hold down members 151 are also adjusted on their supporting rods 154.

The pickup members 4 on the pick up carriage 5 and the actuating means therefor, are

also adjusted on the rocker arm actuator bar 95, rocker arm supports 91 and pick up head support 90, so that the pick up heads will grasp the sheets at the proper place, which is preferably at the corners of said sheets.

When all the adjustments are made according plunger 322 strikes the dog 311, causing it to to the size of the sheet being collated and the feeder stations are supplied with sheets, the motor 2l5 is started and the clutch on shaft 2I6 is set at engaging position. The feeder carriage 5 will move toward the feeder stations and the rollers H9 will contact cams I26, raising the push rods 94 and depressing the pick up suction cups I01 through the medium of the rocker arms I00, the suction cups being forced downwardly until they contact the top sheet 2 in the feeder stations. Air blast through openings 51 has loosened up the top few sheets and suction is applied tothe suction cups I01 holding the sheet securely thereto. The pick up carriage drive bar lever 231 with one end riding in cam 240, being rotatably driven, now starts the pickup carriage toward the delivery belt side of the machine. The rollers IIS will drop from cams I26 and the pickup suction cups with the sheets attached will raise and travel with the carriage away from the feeder stations.

It is obvious that when the machine is first started there are no sheets lying on the transfer table to be carried to the delivery belt. After the first half cycle of operation however, there has been a sheet transferred from each of the feeder stations to the transfer table 3, where the sheets are held in place by suction applied through openings 8|. Therefore, after the first half cycle of operation has been completed, when one set of pick up members 4 are lowered to pick up sheets from the feeder stations, the other set of pick up members will be depressed to pick up the sheets from the transfer table for.

delivery to the delivery belt. The suction in the transfer table will be discontinued when the suc-- tion in the pickup suction cup has started.

As sheets are being taken to the transfer table from the feeder piles, sheets from the transfer table are carried to the moving delivery belt 6. As the sheets drag over the longitudinal suction conduit I33 paralleling the transfer table between it and the delivery belt, the sheets are held taut and kept from dragging on the moving delivery belt until ready for deposit. At this point, should the pick up suction cups fail to lift a sheet the suction openings inthe conduit I 33 would remain open causing a loss of suction and releasing plunger 322 on suction valve 2 to indirectly disengage clutch on shaft 216 as hereinbefore explained.

Before the sheets can be deposited on the delivery belt it is necessary to move the hold down tape I out of engagemnt with the belt As the pick up head support 90 moves toward the far edge of the delivery belt, the rollers I49 contact the inclined surface I41 on rocker arm I42, raising these arms and consequently the hold down tape pulleys I to raise the hold down tape I40 from the delivery belt. Further horizontal movement of the rollers I49 causes them toengage the stop or hook I48 terminating the upward; movement of the tape but starting a horizontal movement thereof, as the sliding heads I43 move against the springs I46 on the rods I44, to entirely remove the hold down-tape up and away from the delivery belt. At this moment the rollers II9 contact cams I26 and the 'suction cups drop, depositing the sheets on the delivery belt, the suction in the cups ceasing, a short sharp blast of 'air being emitted from said cups to assure release of the sheet.

At this point the carriage drive bar lever 23'! with its roller 239 reaches the sharp angular surface 246 of cam member 24I, and the pick up carriage is rapidly withdrawn from above the delivery belt, the hold down tape just as rapidly dropping onto the sheets on the delivery belt.

The sheets will pass under the auxiliary hold downs I5I and through openings 18' to be removed by strippers I51 and guided and positioned in an even pile on the delivery table IT! by guides and Joggers I59, I60 and I66. The delivery belt runs at a speed sufficient to clear the belt of all sheets thereon before the next batch of sheets is deposited.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a collating or sheet assembling machine which automatically picks up sheets from feeder supplies or stations, 'carries them simultaneously to a transfer table and thence to a delivery belt for delivery to an assembly station where the sheets are gathered one on top of the other in regular consecutive order preparatory to binding or the like. The process is rapid and free from errors caused by the human element. Failure in sheet transfer has been provided for by an automatic clutch releasing mechanism.

It is obvious that many changes in form, proportion. and details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention and I therefore reserve all rights to any changes which come within the scope of the principles covered by this specification and the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic collator of the class described, a plurality of sheet feeders, a delivery means adapted to indirectly receive sheets from the feeders, a sheet receiver for collecting the sheets from the delivery means, a sheet hold down tape normally riding on the delivery means for retaining the sheets in fixed relation thereto, and means for moving said hold down tape away from the delivery means during deposit of sheets thereon.

2. In a device of the class described, sheet pick-up means including supports and an actuating means, pick up heads adjustably carried by the supports and connected to the actuating means, whereby said heads may be adjusted to the size sheets being collated, and are operable simultaneously.

3. The structure as specified in claim 2, said heads having a pick up suction shoe, a body sleeve member, suction shoe supporting means sleeved in the body member, conduit means for supplying airblast and suction to the shoe and means normally urging the shoe into raised position.

4. In a device of the class described including a delivery belt, a hold down tape carried at the ends thereof by rollers, said rollers being rockably and slidably mounted, whereby the tape may be moved from its belt contacting position during deposit of sheets on said belt and means normally urging the hold down tape into belt engaging position.

5. In a device of the class described including a reciprocable pick up carriage, a driving mechanism therefor including an irregularly shaped cam member, a rotatable sleeve member, a sliding lever carried by the sleeve member rotatable therewith and adapted to drive the pick up carriage, one end of the sliding lever contacting the irregularly shaped cam surface of the cam member whereby the speed of movement of the pick up carriage may be increased or decreased according to the shape of the cam surface.

6. In an automatic collator of the class de- 

